# Duct Insulation : Don’t Let Your Cool Air (or Money) Leak Out!

- Link: https://alpscomfortair.com/duct-insulation-dont-let-your-cool-air-or-money-leak-out/
- Published: 2013-08-02T06:35:39+00:00
- Author: kathypuig

[⌊orange county air conditioning repair⌉⌊orange county air conditioning repair⌉[You’ve probably
seen HVAC ducts at some point in your life. Those silver space-age looking tubes
that deliver hot and cold air to a home or building. But did you know that ductwork
insulation is a major key in getting them to properly do their job? Ductwork insulation
is important because it ensures that the air traveling through the ductwork will
stay at the desired temperature and that the air won’t “leak” out. If the air is
leaking out then there is unnecessary energy loss, which means that your HVAC system
will have to work even harder to deliver the air you want into your home. This will
cause higher energy bills and a huge waste of energy, which is not good for you 
or the environment. In other words, without proper ductwork insulation, the air 
leaks out into places where there is no reason for it to, while the targeted areas
receive less cooling or heating. Without proper ductwork insulation, it’s estimated
that you could be losing 10-30% of the energy used to heat or cool your home. A 
good level of ductwork insulation can prevent this, as well as leaks, temperature
drops and condensation buildup.

Before adding ductwork insulation, it is highly recommended to first seal leaks 
in the ductwork. Contact an HVAC contractor to seal the ductwork, specifically all
of the points in the duct run. The proper way to seal is to use a material called
mastic that is brushed on and then left to dry for about a day. Mastic is used because
it does not deteriorate or shrink away from the joints. Keep in mind that duct tape
should not be used for sealing ductwork, as it could deteriorate and decompose and
cease to be effective to seal the leaks, leaving you with a sticky, useless mess
on the ductwork itself.

For more information on all things HVAC (and other fun things), follow us on[** Facebook**](https://www.facebook.com/AlpsACandHeating)!